Christmas stollen, oliebollen and champagne are part of the holidays, but that pleasant combination of alcohol and greasy food can make your heart race. This is what cardiologist Menno Baars of the HartKliniek says, who more often sees patients with the so-called holiday heart syndrome around the holidays.
This is a heart rhythm disorder that occurs when people eat and drink a lot in a short period of time, resulting in palpitations. “It sounds very nice, it’s not.”
If you have the syndrome, your heart suddenly starts beating fast and irregularly. As if you have just gone for a run, while in reality you are quietly eating your Christmas dinner. These palpitations can make you short of breath, dizzy or even faint. Some people also experience chest pain, especially if the heart rate is very high.
‘Binge drinking’
According to Baars, the ‘holiday heart’, the Dutch word for this heart rhythm disorder, was first described almost half a century ago. Then doctors noticed that many patients ended up in the hospital after ‘binging’ alcohol. That’s drinking at least four to five glasses of alcohol in a short period of time.
This mainly happened on weekends and public holidays. “People often loosen the reins a bit and are more likely to be tempted by a glass of wine,” says Baars.
HartKliniek is a national clinic for heart diseases, with branches in Lelystad, Almere and Dronten. But the Flevo Hospital in Almere also recognizes the phenomenon: “We see an increase in the number of patients at the Flevo Hospital during the holidays with complaints caused by too much food and too much alcohol consumption. In particular cardiac arrhythmias and heart failure,” says the spokesperson.
How is that possible?
Drinking a lot of alcohol disrupts calcium processing in heart cells. This can disrupt electrical conduction in the heart, or cause an irregular heartbeat. The balance of substances such as sodium and potassium can also be disturbed, which in turn disrupts the control of the heart from the brain.
Alcohol abuse also has a direct toxic effect on heart tissue and can cause permanent damage to heart cells, according to the cardiologist.
But alcohol is not the only cause. Eating excessively during the holidays, especially fatty foods such as oliebollen and fries, also increases the risk of heart disease and the holiday heart. “Large meals strongly stimulate the nerve that controls the stomach and heart,” says Baars. “This can cause hormone levels to rise and heart rate and blood pressure to increase.”
Why is that bad?
The phenomenon is common at this time of year, even in young, healthy people, says Baars. Fortunately, the holiday heart usually disappears on its own once you stop drinking alcohol. In most cases, a night’s sleep helps, after which the palpitations disappear the next morning or afternoon.
“If you recognize these palpitations, stop drinking alcohol immediately, take it easy and make an appointment with your doctor. If you have serious complaints such as shortness of breath or dizziness, call 112.”
How do you prevent your heart from racing?
“What do we learn from this? Enjoy the holidays, but do it in moderation. That is the key to a healthy heart,” says Baars. The best way to prevent holiday heart disease is to drink no or moderate alcohol and absolutely not to binge drink, he says.
“Drink plenty of water in between meals. It is also wise to limit fat, sugar and salt-rich foods and avoid overeating.”
